警 (jǐng) — to warn, to be on guard — noun — an alarm; the police

entries → 警

TSUMUGU · A1 (est.) · 字

警 character · A1 (est.)

警＝言＋敬

ㄐㄧㄥˇ · jǐng

verb — to warn, to be on guard — noun — an alarm; the police

字源 FORM — what the parts do

言義speech — the word of warning

敬聲gives the sound and the meaningjìng — to be wary, on guard; drifted to jǐng

ITjìng → jǐng — initial and tone moved off the donor

Words (言) spoken to put one on guard — to warn. 敬 carries the sound jìng, worn to jǐng, and its meaning — wariness, alertness — runs straight through: to be watchful, to alert. From there: 警告 to warn, 警報 an alarm, 警覺 vigilant, 警察 the police. 敬 is dual-role — sound and the wariness it names.

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

把話（言）說重，叫人打起精神戒備（敬）——這就是警。

The word (言) spoken sharp enough to snap someone to wariness (敬) — that is 警, the warning.

字源記憶法

意 · Meanings

(本義)警、警戒— to warn, to be on guard常用

→警告、警報— to warn; an alarm常用

⇒警察— the police — those who keep guard常用

(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension